Chiropractic Philosophy – What Is It and Why Does It Matter?

A patient’s chiropractic experience will vary greatly from office to office. All of these offices are considered “chiropractic” offices. However, that may be the only thing Office A and Office B may have in common. Some offices may feel very “medical,” while others may feel very open and spiritual/philosophical in nature. A big misconception about chiropractic is that the education is different. All chiropractic schools in the U.S have been standardized by the Chiropractic Council on Education to ensure that standards are met. Also, to obtain licensure in all 50 States, chiropractors are required to pass National Board Exams conducted by the National Board of Chiropractic Education. This raises an interesting question, what dedicates the experience of a chiropractic office. It is the author’s opinion that the tone of an office is based on the philosophy of the chiropractor, rather than their training. To understand chiropractic care and to determine what office is best for you, it is important to understand the history of chiropractic.

Chiropractic was formally conceived in 1895 by a man named Daniel David Palmer. Palmer was a magnetic healer at the time when he met Harvey Lillard, a janitor in the building where Palmer had his office. Lillard informed Palmer that he heard a pop in his back while lifting up a box and instantly lost his ability to hear. Palmer examined Lillard and found a vertebrae in his spine was out of alignment, and Palmer decided to deliver what would be the first chiropractic adjustment. Lillard reported to Palmer that his hearing was restored, and at this moment chiropractic was born. Palmer went on to start the Palmer School of Chiropractic to teach and research the effects of chiropractic formally. Students of Palmer would leave and start their own schools to help spread chiropractic. D.D. Palmer theorized that through removing misaligned vertebrae (a vertebral subluxation), chiropractic helped restore the body’s natural ability to heal itself. His coined this term innate intelligence. Chiropractic was born as an alternative to healthcare. Remember, this is a time in healthcare where bloodletting and leeching were still a thing.

After some time, D.D’s son B.J took over the Palmer School of Chiropractic. Palmer decided that research was essential for proving chiropractic’s efficacy, so he allocated a significant amount of the school’s resources to open up the B.J Palmer Research Clinic. At the research, clinic patients were required to adhere to a strict protocol which included, blood work, x-rays, structured diet, and resting pre and post adjustment. The research clinic was divided into a chiropractic division and a medical division. Patients were required to be evaluated by both divisions to ensure proper patient care. B.J found that there was a change in physiology pre and post adjustment and many of his patients noted a positive change in their symptoms. Helpless people found relief. For years after, the medical community tried to discredit chiropractic and its ability to help people. The situation became so ugly that chiropractors actually sued the AMA and won in court. The AMA was found to be guilty of actively trying to eliminate the chiropractic profession. After the dust settled from the lawsuit, the medical community, in an attempt to include chiropractic, formed the Journal and Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT). JMPT found that chiropractic was extremely effective for the treatment of low back pain. This is how chiropractic became accepted for injuries of the spine and muscles. As time passed, mainstream chiropractic moved away from the principles of innate intelligence and an alternative to healthcare to a treatment of low back pain and musculoskeletal injuries. This move towards a treatment of low back pain explains why the experience of Office A and Office B may be entirely different.

The debate still rages on today about what chiropractic should and should not be. On one side, you have those in chiropractic that would like to be able to prescribe medication. On the other side, you have those who believe that even accepting insurance (because of the requirement to document a diagnosis) is altering chiropractic from its true origins of finding and detecting vertebral subluxations. The interesting thing is as science progresses more and more of what the Palmer’s initially theorized has been proven correct, for example, chiropractors were the first to theorize that the nervous system controls every function of the human body including the immune system. The scientific community has accepted that there is an innate intelligence in the body, they just decided to call it homeostasis.

There are plenty of researchers continuing the Palmers’ work. Research was recently conducted that proved that the brain better receives more information from the ankle after a spinal adjustment. Researchers have also found that chiropractic care affects the nervous system. Research has shown that the chiropractic adjustment balances the sympathetic and the parasympathetic branches of the nervous system; allowing the body to function more efficiently and increase adaptability to internal and external stress. Although chiropractic may not be a treatment for every ailment, science has proven that you are healthier while under care.

Here at Intrinsic Chiropractic of New Jersey, we have taken a middle road approach in our office philosophy. We believe that the world is healthier when it utilizes fewer drugs and surgery. Our goal is to take you from a 10/10 pain to pre-injury status to even optimizing and enhancing function. Chiropractic research has proven time and time again that chiropractic will improve performance and help the body function better and adapt to stress. Whether you have an injury or would like to take your game to the next level, call Intrinsic Chiropractic of New Jersey today!

If you would like to learn about how chiropractic can help with your healthcare needs, please call Intrinsic Chiropractic of New Jersey to setup an evaluation with Dr. Anthony Walko. Intrinsic Chiropractic of New Jersey implores a wide variety of chiropractic techniques including Diversified, Drop- Table, Activator, and Manual Flexion and Distraction. Intrinsic Chiropractic of New Jersey is conveniently located in Westwood, New Jersey and is currently accepting new patients. Call today to make an appointment.